World Model · podcast knowledge graph

The Death of Reading (with James Marriott)

2026-09-21 · 65 min · episode 1068 · 18 entities

episode page audio

Asserted relationships

  • → appeared on EconTalk podcast
    0.68
    evidence rules-v4
    The Death of Reading (with James Marriott)
  • → hosted by Russ Roberts person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Russ Roberts
  • → hosted by Library of Economics and Liberty person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Library of Economics and Liberty
  • → discusses Science concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Science
  • → discusses Society & Culture concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Society & Culture
  • → discusses Philosophy concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Philosophy
  • → discusses Education concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Education
  • → discusses Courses concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Courses
  • → discusses Social Sciences concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Social Sciences

Entities found in this episode

concepts 12

  • mentioned Science concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Science
  • mentioned Society & Culture concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Society & Culture
  • mentioned Philosophy concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Philosophy
  • mentioned Education concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Education
  • mentioned Courses concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Courses
  • mentioned Social Sciences concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Social Sciences
  • discusses Science concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Science
  • discusses Society & Culture concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Society & Culture
  • discusses Philosophy concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Philosophy
  • discusses Education concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Education
  • discusses Courses concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Courses
  • discusses Social Sciences concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Social Sciences

persons 5

  • mentioned James Marriott person
    0.72
    evidence rules-v4
    The Death of Reading (with James Marriott)
  • mentioned Russ Roberts person
    0.70
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Russ Roberts
  • 0.70
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Library of Economics and Liberty
  • hosted by Russ Roberts person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Russ Roberts
  • 0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Library of Economics and Liberty

podcasts 1

  • appeared on EconTalk podcast
    0.68
    evidence rules-v4
    The Death of Reading (with James Marriott)
Episode description as stored
Are we living in the new Dark Ages? Despite vast technological advances, our societies are increasingly looking like those that preceded the advent of literacy. So argues journalist James Marriott, who sees in our abandonment of reading a threat to democracy and a reversal of many of the Enlightenment's gains. He and EconTalk's Russ Roberts trace literacy from its fragile first days in ancient Mesopotamia through to the printing press and the "Reading Revolution" of the mid-to-late 18th century, exploring how--and whether--its spread shaped major historical events. They analyze Marriott's claim that reading grounds politics in rationality, consider the role of the Republic of Letters in driving Europe's Industrial Revolution, and debate whether a book or a movie is better at conveying complexity. Marriott ends with a consolation: Just as fast food gave rise to the gym, informational junk food may give rise to reading as an intentional discipline.